Guintoli completes WSBK test.

now this the guy to watch next season, assuming he's in WSBK and in the factory yamaha team. definitly a sleeper who hasnt had a alot of luck. hope sylvain gets a decent ride cause he rips!

whoever disagreed come out from the cover you spineless piece of *****

only kidding, but i mean, riding that ducati 800 with no traction control at sachsenring in the pouring rain was completely amazing.

he'll beat biaggi in wsbk next year at least!

Bit of a step down if he does end up at Yamaha France, he deserves a top WSB ride

I also think Guintoli deserves decent ride next year.

The Yamaha France Team has, up to now, been a shoestring effort and the results have not matched the talents of their riders. It seems likely that Yamaha are going to give Yamaha France extra support - increasing their efforst in WSB just as they are increasing their efforts in BSB and Road Racing to help market the new R1.

Yamaha Italia would be great.

It would be ridiculous if he ended up at Yamaha France, though, unless the team is going to be much better supported next year.

Word is the Yamha France team will use this years Yamahas, it would be a surprise if they had teh big bang bikes, unless they were used to develop it?

word on the street is that American Ben Spies has a one year deal with Yamaha Italia and a spot at Tech3 in 2010, so long as the Jir deal doesn't work out. Sorry Sylvain.

Can't see Spies going to WSB because he's too ***** unless no one in GP gives him a spot and the manufacturers don't race in AMA next year. Spies is good but not as good as he thinks he is. Sylvain would be a better choice for the WSB Yamaha factory team. Unless the team is thinking marketing in the U.S. then a guy like Spies would make sense.

I guess the web police didn't like co cky in my above post.

I really like Guintoli and think it's a shame he never really got to prove himself. 10th rate Yamaha in his first year and a bike that 2 other very fast riders (both MotoGP race winners)have also had problems adjusting to this year. I tink he's a very quick guy and would be a great talent in WSB. Plus let's be honest, Sylvain comes across as a real nice, fun guy... His accent is superb! French but with a definite English slant. He must have lived here a while (?) cos there are definitely ****ney words in there too... cool guy!

c.o.c.k.n.e.y words in there too

I hope Spies is coming to WSB because we need some good Americans in the series if it is to be considered a world championship - at least we now have some American rounds again. I don't think he is co cky - he's confident and professional, but why shouldn't he be - he's just shown Suzuki what a mistake they made in resigning Capirossi by beating both their regular riders and two thirds of the MotoGP field. I think he will race for Yamaha in AMA next year and the journos are making a mistake - if the plan is for him to take Colin Edwards seat in 2010 there would be no point in him coming to WSB for one year cos despite what Hodgson might say, Mladin and Spies would not win WSB first try.

I would like to see Guintoli in WSB - there must be a decent seat for someone of his class and also for Andrew Pitt.

From MCN it sounds as though Corser has got the BMW ride - apparently he will get a guaranteed race car ride (DTM) when he retires from bikes.

Neil Hodgson is half way through a two year US Honda deal, but with Honda apparently boycotting AMA next year, maybe he will be available. During an interview on Eurosport on Sunday Paul Bird said he was trying to get Hodgson on one of his bikes for the last round. He also said he might be in BSB next year - presumably with the cancelled GSE bikes.

Does anyone know who will be riding the two (US) Boulder Ducatis next year?

"we need some good Americans in the series if it is to be considered a world championship"...

LOL... No offence mate, but that's hilarious! If America ain't there it has no credibility? LOL... After Toseland left WSB this year, us Brits still love it, Haga, Baylis, Corser etc all have earned much respect from us Brits!

Cheers for the giggle and reinforcing stereotypes...

@ Sick Cylinder

The latest rumours have the Gaundalini Team with the recently re-signed Jakub Smrz joining with the Boulder Motorsports team who will field former AMA Honda rider, Jake Zemke.

Again I reiterate the need for a summary of all this silly season info!

But yeah agree with pretty much everyone here, Guinters kanes the booty. Sachsenring was awesome, and last year on that cruddy Yam, he was leading in France for quite a while, looking really "soliiid!"

Soo many good riders, so few weekends...

For it to be a true World Championship - it would have to have all the events in the US (Or maybe just 1 of them in Canada) ie - baseball etc...

Surprised the AMA superbikes wasn't called the 'World Championship of Superbikes'... LOL

"I hope Spies is coming to WSB because we need some good Americans in the series if it is to be considered a world championship"
Dear fuc.king God, could you get any more patronsing!? Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Americans persay but this 'holier than thou' attitude that so many of you seem to adopt is just pathetic. How full of shi.t can you be?!
A World Championship, as far as I'm aware, is about the location of the circuits, not so much about the nationality of the riders. I'm Turkish and have never thought the series was only less of a 'world' championship because we weren't represented (pre Sofuoglu). I understand that America has produced many superb riders...

cont.

but that doesn't mean that a series is a lesser place without an American rider. And that goes for any nationality. What's important is the quality of the racing and the characters and rivalries that comes with it.

That said, I would like to see Spies move in WSB. He is a very exciting rider with a balls out style. Would hate to see him play safe like Mladin and stay in his comfort zone.

Thanks Mononuke for the info and apologies to mankind for the patronising post! - shows that a rushed post is sometimes a bad post.

I was thinking a range of things including - when the control tyre was introduced WSB lost rounds in certain countries as well as wildcard riders. At one point it became effectively a European championship with most rounds concentrated in Italy and the UK. To be a world championship with prestige it needed to visit more countries and have a broader range of riders. It's still got a way to go on the countries front to match MotoGP, but is improving (South Africa and US added) and it has now got a good range of riders.